Fashion Blogs

Engagement is a very responsible and important step in every man’s life. When finally deciding to propose to your girlfriend, you should pick your lines carefully and make the best choices possible. Solitaire diamond engagement ring, proposed in a romantic and sensual way will most likely melt her heart, so let’s take a closer look at the main designs for such rings and some things you should know about them.

History and traditions

Tradition of proposing with engagement rings goes back to ancient times. It is vastly documented that Ancient Romans and Greeks had this custom. Roman women received two rings – iron one to be used in home and golden to be worn in public.

Many Medieval cultures considered golden engagement ring as a part of the bride’s price and an official mark of ownership by her future husband. For example, in Western Europe, accepted engagement ring was considered a pledge of future marriage and this oath should never be broken after the proposal. During the Renaissance, solitaire rings became popular among higher classes and secular society, as they represented both the nobility and wealth of their wearers.

Since Reformation and later on through the Victorian era to 21st century betrothal rings in Western cultures are mostly worn in combinations commonly known as bridal or wedding sets. usually they are worn by women, but Nordic countries and modern USA, Australia and Canada often have a tradition of both people in the couple wearing engagement and wedding rings.

Designs and appearances

Engagement rings mostly bear sole diamond or any other gemstone, depending on many factors as:

• family or religious traditions
• personal stylistic preferences
• reflection of the wearer’s uniqueness
• social responsibility, etc.

While many cultures, especially in Western civilization, consider engagement rings as a formal sign of mutual love and respect, a promise of loyalty and further marriage, there is not a predefined form of the ring or any requirements to the stone or the metal. Rings are mostly made of white gold and bear a single diamond atop of the ring; therefore, diamond solitaire ring is a classic choice for a groom to propose his fiancée.

This design came to us through the ages and nowadays is most commonly represented with Tiffany Setting introduced in 1886 and featuring a sole diamond fixed into frame with 6 claws (the so-called Tiffany Mount). It is considered to be the most elegant, gentle and popular design nowadays. However, many styles and designs exist, varying depending not only on the groom’s budget, but also on couple’s preferences and overall style.